ETHICAL AND UNUSUAL GIFTS FOR XMAS, VALENTINES AND OTHER SPECIAL DAYS

Show them that you truly love them by giving them an ethical gift this year.

Christian Aid, Oxfam & World Vision have all launched schemes to send livestock such as goats, donkeys, sheep, camels and other animals to Africa on behalf of loved ones as charity gifts.

You could give them a fruit tree or even a whole mango plantation if you really want to make an impression.

These charity gifts make great presents for all occasions and there are well over a hundred different gift ideas between the three organsiations.

All you need to do is to visit the web site and pick out your gift online. You can send a personal message to your loved one too. Simple!

Valentines Day wouldn't be Valentines Day without Chocolate would it? So go ahead and give your lover chocolate... Visit:-

http://www.chocolatetradingco.com who's award winning website provides the widest selection of premium chocolates from all over the world. The chocolate is produced by 16 of the world's best chocolatiers.

All categories of chocolate are available; gift boxes, single origin gourmet bars and unique novelties such as Chilli Lips and Chocolate Sardines.

One of the varieties of chocolate is 100% 'Malagasy'. Which means that it is a single origin chocolate, made and packaged solely in Madagascar. Others are made solely in Venezuela and other countries. This is a new concept in fair trade.

The fairly traded chocolate they sell has a special classification of “equitably traded”, which means the earnings from sales is shared amongst the co-operative farmers directly. This enables them to protect and develop their business, habitat and land ; keeping them from falling into the poverty trap.

So you see you can be naughty and ethical with it!

Instead of that cutesy cuddly toy why not give a real animal? A scheme has been set up by WWF whereby you can give someone a real animal. It could even be an elephant or a rhino. No of course I'm not suggesting that you'd keep it in your back garden!

By adopting an animal you help to safeguard the future of their species.

The person on whose behalf you adopt the animal will receive a certificate, a picture of the animal, an information sheet and for all the adoptions except panda's receive quarterly updates throughout the year. The reason why you only get two updates for Panda's is because these adorable creatures are reputed to be extremely elusive and so are harder to track down and report on.

Eco2You.co.uk have a nice range of Cornish eco jewellery and many other eco friendly gifts. They have ranges of gifts made from recycled materials too.

This website has tons of ideas for memorable experiences, from a Fashion Photo Shoot through Rally Driving to Zorbing. You can even feed a tiger if you're brave enough!